Kerstin Alicki Senior Campus Director - Europe
As Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrates its 100th anniversary, its Europe Campus offers a distinctly international view of the university’s mission. In this interview, Kerstin Alicki, Senior Campus Director, explains how Embry-Riddle supports civilian learners, military students, industry partners and professionals across Europe, Africa and the Middle East — and why aerospace, defense, space and lifelong learning are central to its next chapter.
Embry-Riddle is celebrating its 100th anniversary. What does this milestone mean from the perspective of the Europe Campus?
Embry-Riddle’s 100th anniversary is both a celebration and a moment of gratitude. While a century of history is a remarkable milestone, what stands out most are the people who have shaped that history–students, faculty, staff, military service members, alumni, and industry partners around the world.
Celebrating this milestone from Europe offers a unique perspective. This is a continent where many of aviation’s earliest chapters were written, from Otto Lilienthal’s pioneering glider experiments in Germany to the innovations that helped transform flight into a global industry. Operating in the Old World reminds us that progress is built on generations of discovery, collaboration, and shared knowledge.
For nearly two decades, the Europe Campus has contributed to that legacy by serving scholars and explorers across cultures, industries, and career stages. Many of our students balance demanding professional responsibilities while pursuing their education, embodying the spirit of innovation, resilience, and lifelong learning that has defined Embry-Riddle for a century.
As we celebrate the past 100 years, we are equally focused on the future and the responsibility we share in preparing the next generation of aviation, aerospace, defense, and space professionals.
How would you describe the role of the Europe Campus within Embry-Riddle’s global structure today?
The Europe Campus in Frankfurt on Main, Germany, serves as Embry-Riddle’s gateway to Europe and plays a unique role within the university’s global structure. As part of Embry-Riddle Worldwide, which delivers online education to students around the world, the Europe Campus extends the university’s mission by supporting civilian learners, military students from NATO partner nations, industry partners, and professional education initiatives throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
In Europe, the university maintains 16 locations across Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Romania, and Poland. Fifteen of these sites are located on U.S. military installations and support service members and their families through Embry-Riddle’s international operations, which date back to 1973.
What makes the Europe Campus unique is its focus on non-U.S. military students and its direct engagement with the European aviation and aerospace community.
Founded in Berlin in 2008 and relocated to Frankfurt in 2021, the campus is based at the House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM). As part of the Hessen Aviation cluster and located adjacent to Frankfurt Airport, we benefit from close partnerships with industry, government, and academia at the heart of one of Europe’s leading aerospace regions.
The Europe Campus serves students across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. What are the main needs and expectations of students from such a diverse region?
As Embry-Riddle’s mission has expanded internationally over the last century, many of our students at our Europe Worldwide Campus are working professionals and require support that differs from that of traditional university students. Whether they work for aviation and aerospace companies, government organizations, or military units, they are looking for excellent academic programs that are flexible enough to fit around demanding careers, international assignments, and frequent travel. Many are also working outside their home countries and require educational opportunities that are internationally recognized and accessible, regardless of location. Our students expect a learning environment that allows them to advance their education without interrupting their professional responsibilities.
At the same time, we see a growing demand for upskilling and professional development across the aviation sector. Employees of airports, airlines, civil aviation authorities, and other industry organizations are seeking opportunities to develop new competencies in response to technological change, evolving regulations, and workforce challenges. These students expect education that is practical, industry-relevant, and immediately applicable to their work.
Many of our partners also turn to Embry-Riddle because they want to ensure their personnel receive training that meets the highest international standards. In highly regulated industries such as aviation and aerospace, it is critical that academic and professional education programming meet employers‘ auditing, compliance, and quality assurance specifications, procedures, and requirements. Our associates in industry and government value having a trusted educational partner with a strong reputation for academic rigor and professional excellence. We are proud to support these organizations by providing education and training that helps their workforce meet both current requirements and future challenges.
A CENTURY OF AVIATION EDUCATION NOW MEETS THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF AEROSPACE, DEFENSE AND SPACE
Embry-Riddle is widely known for aviation and aerospace education. Which programs are currently most relevant for students and professionals in Europe?
The programs that resonate most strongly in Europe are those that help professionals advance their careers and prepare for leadership roles in a rapidly evolving industry. Many of our students are airline transport pilots looking to move beyond the flight deck into management and executive positions. Others are active military personnel preparing for successful transitions into civilian careers, while traditional students are seeking a pathway into the aviation and aerospace industry. Across all of these groups, there is strong demand for programs that combine technical expertise with leadership, safety, sustainability, and strategic decision-making.
Some of our most popular graduate programs include the Master of Science in Aeronautics, the MBA in Aviation, and the Master of Science in Aviation Safety. We also see strong interest in our master’s programs in Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability, Systems Engineering, Human Factors, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Leadership. We are also seeing growing interest in our Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems programs as organizations seek professionals who can manage and integrate rapidly advancing drone technologies and operations. At the undergraduate level, students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Aeronautics, Pilot Operations, Aviation Administration, Technical Management, and Engineering.
What has distinguished Embry-Riddle from other universities over the past 100 years, is our ability to combine academic rigor and training with industry relevance. For over a century, Embry-Riddle students have been seeking the knowledge and skills that help them solve real-world challenges, lead complex organizations, and contribute to the future of aviation, aerospace, and defense. Embry-Riddle has the ability to go beyond simply providing credentials, providing students with the aptitude and expertise to advance their careers and meaningfully enhance their organization and industry.
You mentioned the Master of Space Operations and the Master of Science in Space Systems. Why are these programs particularly important at this moment, and what makes them distinctive?
Space has become a strategic priority for governments, international organizations, and commercial enterprises alike. Embry-Riddle‘s Master of Space Operations and the Master of Science in Space Systems programs allow our students to immediately gain the expertise to contribute to these global priorities.
Europe is playing an increasingly important role in the global space sector through initiatives such as Galileo, Copernicus, and Ariane 6, as well as the work of organizations including the European Space Agency (ESA), European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Centre National D’Études Spatiales (CNES). This participation in the space sector is creating growing demand for professionals who can lead complex space programs, manage sophisticated systems, and successfully navigate intricate international environments.
Embry-Riddle‘s academic programs focus on the operational and systems aspects of space activities. The Master of Space Operations prepares professionals to manage complex missions and space assets, while the Master of Science in Space Systems focuses on the engineering, integration, and lifecycle management of advanced space systems. Both programs emphasize not only technical expertise, but also leadership, risk management, policy, and international collaboration.
A particular strength of the Master of Space Operations is its leadership under Dr. Andrew “Andy” Aldrin, a respected space professional and the son of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Dr. Andy Aldrin has dedicated his career to developing the next generation of space leaders. His mentorship, expertise, and commitment to the advancing space sector reflects Embry-Riddle’s commitment to combining academic excellence with real-world industry experience and innovation.
As Europe continues to expand its role in space, the demand for professionals who can bridge technology, operations, and strategy will only continue to grow. And Embry-Riddle will be ready to provide the necessary academic programming and leadership, ensuring a global contribution to a future beyond the sky.
Embry-Riddle has long experience in supporting military learners. How can the university help service members and defense professionals prepare for future leadership roles?
Embry-Riddle has supported military learners for decades—starting as a training hub during World War II, where thousands of pilots were trained as aircraft mechanics in preparation for service. One of the most rewarding aspects of the continuation of that mission of training and education is witnessing graduates apply their education in leadership roles across the defense, aviation, aerospace, and government sectors.
Many of our military students from Germany and across Europe use their degrees to prepare for successful transitions into civilian careers. A notable exception to this typical path is that of General Ingo Gerhartz, an Embry-Riddle graduate who continued his military career, serving as Chief of the German Air Force before assuming his current role as Commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands. His career demonstrates how advanced education can complement operational experience at the highest levels of military leadership.
As military operations and aerospace and defense organizations confront challenges ranging from cybersecurity and space operations to emerging technologies and multinational cooperation, future leaders must be able to combine operational excellence and organizational leadership with systems and strategic thinking. Whether they continue their military careers or transition into civilian leadership positions, Embry-Riddle graduates are equipped to lead organizations and make informed decisions in complex environments and global operations.
Partnerships with institutions such as Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of Malta, and the University of the Witwatersrand are part of your current international cooperation. What do these partnerships bring to students and faculty?
Our international partnerships are designed to create meaningful opportunities for students while strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
Each partnership serves a different purpose. Through our collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff Airport, students in the Bachelor (Honours) in Aviation Management gain valuable exposure to a real airport operating environment while developing their expertise in aviation management.
Our partnership with the University of Malta provides professional pilots with a dual-degree pathway that combines operational experience with advanced academic qualifications.
At the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, students can pursue a two degree program through credit recognition that combines Embry-Riddle’s Master of Science in Aeronautics with Wits’ expertise in Aeronautical Engineering, creating a unique blend of operational and technical knowledge. In addition, engineering students at Wits can take Embry-Riddle courses à la carte, allowing them to expand their knowledge in areas that align with their individual interests and career goals.
For faculty, these partnerships create opportunities for collaboration in teaching, curriculum development, research, and industry engagement. More broadly, partnerships such as these help prepare students for success in a global industry by exposing them to diverse perspectives, workforces, institutions, and professional environments.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Embry-Riddle Europe over the next few years, particularly in relation to aerospace, defense, space, and professional education?
Looking ahead, the University‘s vision for Embry-Riddle Europe is to expand access to high-quality aviation, aerospace, defense, and space education while sustaining and continuing to expand our engagement with industry, government, academia, and key organizations that are shaping the future of these sectors.
A key priority is growing our network of academic and industry partnerships to create new pathways for students and support the evolving needs of the aviation and aerospace workforce. We also want to raise awareness that Embry-Riddle awards academic credit for professional aviation and maintenance licenses, enabling students at European flight schools to complement their flight training with an internationally recognized university degree.
We also see tremendous opportunities to deepen our engagement with industry. As organizations across aviation, aerospace, and defense adapt to rapid technological change, we want Embry-Riddle Europe to be the partner of choice for workforce development, upskilling, and professional education, leading to expanded career opportunities and the ability of our graduates to secure high-wage jobs across all sectors.
Our professional education portfolio reflects both emerging technologies and ongoing industry priorities. While topics such as advanced air mobility, aviation cybersecurity, and sustainability address the future of aviation, programs in areas such as quality management in pilot selection support the industry’s ongoing commitment to safety, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance.
The defense and space sectors are areas of particular growth. As Europe continues to invest in security, resilience, and space capabilities, Embry-Riddle can support both military and civilian professionals through specialized education, leadership development, and innovative programs.
Ultimately, our goal is to build on Embry-Riddle’s first century of excellence while positioning the Europe Campus as a leading hub for aerospace, defense, space, and professional education.
Interview: Katerina Urbanova
Portrait photo credit: Sarah Kastner Fotografie
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